Singer 20U Industrial Sewing Machine Tutorial

SIZE NEEDLE - ONLY use Singer Industrial needles, they have a groove in the front. NOT "universal" or tabletop sewing machine needles.

MODEL - Singer 20U from the 1950s or so. I have no information more specific than that.

8/29/2015 HEY HATERS, this is a free tutorial video for an internal arts and technology makerspace, so like it or do not watch it. I'm not here to teach you for free, hold a class for free or answer your questions for free. This is not "Yahoo! Answers." What's in the video is here for your benefit as provided by a fashion expert who used the machine for decades and is intended as a complement to an in person class, the benefits of which video you are getting for free. Additionally, a specific person has been reported repeatedly for trolling this comment thread, bashing and making comments about Ms. Berry which are abusive; all of which have been reported to YouTube.

[virginieguillemette]

I inherited a Singer 20U from my mother, who was a professional seamstress all her life, when she passed away 15 years ago. I learned to sew as a young girl on this machine, and when I got older and had to get my own basic home sewing machine, it felt so slow and flimsy compared to using this, lol. When she passed away, she was living in Florida; I was living across the continent in Las Vegas, but thought I might be moving back to Florida soon, so I put it, along with countless bins and boxes of threads, notions, fabrics, and other accessories in a storage unit. Things didn't end up as I had predicted, and I ended up staying in Vegas for 15 years, before moving back east to North Carolina, and finally making it down to Florida to clean out the storage unit. I had to rent a truck to haul this bad boy and all the other bits up to NC, but I am glad I did. I now have a lot of cleaning and restoring to do, as I'm sure 15 years collecting dust in the humidity and humidity of Florida have probably not been good for this machine. Despite this, it actually looks like it has held up ok. I ran across this video as I was researching the use and care of this very particular machine before starting to clean it up. I'm assuming I will probably need to have it serviced before I can start using it again.

My model does not have the bobbin threader on the top, however. It's on the right side of the machine, but otherwise looks identical to this one. I believe she got hers in the early or mid 1970s.

My mother kept a roof over our heads and put food on the table with this machine. I'm just a sometime hobbyist sewer who likes to be able to mend clothes or craft some curtains now and again, but I count myself lucky to have it. Thank you for posting this video!

[XavPaice]

Just wanted to leave a quick thank you for this. Exactly what I needed, really appreciate someone who knows that machine literally inside and out taking the time to explain it for those of us who are likely to get in front of one for the first time.

[ZenaHerbert]

I bought A 20U in 1974, new, and it has served me brilliantly. Sews anything, from leather to lace. Returning to textiles after a lengthy break, I'd forgotten the buttonhole sequence so this was very helpful, that you.

[fiddleru]

I don't know if someone has mentioned this earlier but that big felt pad under the top cover (29:50 into the video) is the reservoir for the automatic oiling system. This felt pad should be liberally oiled and it will constantly feed oil to the main wear points that need to be lubricated all the time you are actually sewing. It's important.

[emilsantiz]

A Master showing her Art and abilities using a vintage machine- She is simply Thanks for sharing your knowledge and tricks to us

[buildabearmovies]

I was given my nans 20u over the summer and its amazing! This video was super helpful!

[sharw]

Thankyou for Sharing this Tutorial, I have a 1970/71 20u and your video has helped me understand my machine and to operate it properly.

[margaretwangui]

Thank you. I bought a 20U machine recently. I appreciate for the tutorial and I will be contacting you for more as we proceed.

[kennethcolbert]

Very nice video I have the Singer 20U-109 for about a year now.I love it my wife does not sew but I love to make frame bags for bicycles and stuff for the house.It took me a while to learn how to use this machine one thing I did was I went to a smaller pulley on the motor that alone let me use the 20U-109.With out getting my fingers hurt lol.Once again thanks for this video.

[danielhollingsworth]

At last, someone made a close-up and clear video. God bless you, it is excellent !

[CiaconnaUK]

thanks so much for taking the time to make and share this video. it helped me so much and was really clear.

[muddigger]

Awesome!! Your video was way more helpful than the manual!!!

[thejeannelson]

I always lifted my head toward the back to change my bobbin.  so easy.

[rojamanepalli]

Video was good....and can we do both zigzag and embroidery in a single machine?? If yes pls suggest the machines with name and price...

[venmon]

I am a very new seemstress.. my teacher sold me this 20u machine.. to wish i feel bless and highly favour.. its my first time around it, seeing thatbi was using a home heavy duty machine for throughout my class..

I have been sitting around it for 2 days now.. trying to thread it correctly and placing the babin correct to start sewing..

I am stucked

[sallynuttall]

Thank you very much for the video- really appreciated by someone who is looking for one of these machines.

[estherhdz]

I've been having my singer 20u for about 12 years and never knew i can do zigzag and buttonholes. Thank you for this tutorial!! Maybe you can make a tutorial on how to use all of the different foots that are available for this machine and what they are for. thanks!

[SharonReid-so]

Just want let you know how appreciative I am of this awesome 👌🏽 service I shall save this to ho back to for learning more, God bless and keep you 🙏🏽 until, I shall subscribe to your channel ❤❤❤❤❤❤🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾✅️🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🙋🏽

[twilateetaylor]

This was incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for posting this!

[florencebanda]

Thank you for the video and I wanted to find out what I can do if the machine is skipping stitches